diff --git a/src/browser/EventManager.zig b/src/browser/EventManager.zig
index 1cf82bfc..aeeb2248 100644
--- a/src/browser/EventManager.zig
+++ b/src/browser/EventManager.zig
@@ -211,38 +211,9 @@ pub fn dispatchOpts(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *Event, co
         log.debug(.event, "eventManager.dispatch", .{ .type = event._type_string.str(), .bubbles = event._bubbles });
     }
 
-    event._target = target;
-    event._dispatch_target = target; // Store original target for composedPath()
-    var was_handled = false;
-
-    defer if (was_handled) {
-        var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-        self.page.js.localScope(&ls);
-        defer ls.deinit();
-        ls.local.runMicrotasks();
-    };
-
     switch (target._type) {
-        .node => |node| try self.dispatchNode(node, event, &was_handled, opts),
-        .xhr,
-        .window,
-        .abort_signal,
-        .media_query_list,
-        .message_port,
-        .text_track_cue,
-        .navigation,
-        .screen,
-        .screen_orientation,
-        .visual_viewport,
-        .file_reader,
-        .generic,
-        => {
-            const list = self.lookup.get(.{
-                .event_target = @intFromPtr(target),
-                .type_string = event._type_string,
-            }) orelse return;
-            try self.dispatchAll(list, target, event, &was_handled, opts);
-        },
+        .node => |node| try self.dispatchNode(node, event, opts),
+        else => try self.dispatchDirect(target, event, null, .{ .context = "dispatch" }),
     }
 }
 
@@ -251,16 +222,22 @@ pub fn dispatchOpts(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *Event, co
 // property is just a shortcut for calling addEventListener, but they are distinct.
 // An event set via property cannot be removed by removeEventListener. If you
 // set both the property and add a listener, they both execute.
-const DispatchWithFunctionOptions = struct {
+const DispatchDirectOptions = struct {
     context: []const u8,
     inject_target: bool = true,
 };
-pub fn dispatchWithFunction(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *Event, function_: ?js.Function, comptime opts: DispatchWithFunctionOptions) !void {
+
+// Direct dispatch for non-DOM targets (Window, XHR, AbortSignal) or DOM nodes with
+// property handlers. No propagation - just calls the handler and registered listeners.
+// Handler can be: null, ?js.Function.Global, ?js.Function.Temp, or js.Function
+pub fn dispatchDirect(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *Event, handler: anytype, comptime opts: DispatchDirectOptions) !void {
+    const page = self.page;
+
     event.acquireRef();
-    defer event.deinit(false, self.page);
+    defer event.deinit(false, page);
 
     if (comptime IS_DEBUG) {
-        log.debug(.event, "dispatchWithFunction", .{ .type = event._type_string.str(), .context = opts.context, .has_function = function_ != null });
+        log.debug(.event, "dispatchDirect", .{ .type = event._type_string, .context = opts.context });
     }
 
     if (comptime opts.inject_target) {
@@ -269,14 +246,15 @@ pub fn dispatchWithFunction(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *E
     }
 
     var was_dispatched = false;
-    defer if (was_dispatched) {
-        var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-        self.page.js.localScope(&ls);
-        defer ls.deinit();
-        ls.local.runMicrotasks();
-    };
 
-    if (function_) |func| {
+    var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
+    page.js.localScope(&ls);
+    defer {
+        ls.local.runMicrotasks();
+        ls.deinit();
+    }
+
+    if (getFunction(handler, &ls.local)) |func| {
         event._current_target = target;
         if (func.callWithThis(void, target, .{event})) {
             was_dispatched = true;
@@ -286,17 +264,126 @@ pub fn dispatchWithFunction(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *E
         }
     }
 
+    // listeners reigstered via addEventListener
     const list = self.lookup.get(.{
         .event_target = @intFromPtr(target),
         .type_string = event._type_string,
     }) orelse return;
-    try self.dispatchAll(list, target, event, &was_dispatched, .{});
+
+    // This is a slightly simplified version of what you'll find in dispatchPhase
+    // It is simpler because, for direct dispatching, we know there's no ancestors
+    // and only the single target phase.
+
+    // Track dispatch depth for deferred removal
+    self.dispatch_depth += 1;
+    defer {
+        const dispatch_depth = self.dispatch_depth;
+        // Only destroy deferred listeners when we exit the outermost dispatch
+        if (dispatch_depth == 1) {
+            for (self.deferred_removals.items) |removal| {
+                removal.list.remove(&removal.listener.node);
+                self.listener_pool.destroy(removal.listener);
+            }
+            self.deferred_removals.clearRetainingCapacity();
+        } else {
+            self.dispatch_depth = dispatch_depth - 1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Use the last listener in the list as sentinel - listeners added during dispatch will be after it
+    const last_node = list.last orelse return;
+    const last_listener: *Listener = @alignCast(@fieldParentPtr("node", last_node));
+
+    // Iterate through the list, stopping after we've encountered the last_listener
+    var node = list.first;
+    var is_done = false;
+    while (node) |n| {
+        if (is_done) {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        const listener: *Listener = @alignCast(@fieldParentPtr("node", n));
+        is_done = (listener == last_listener);
+        node = n.next;
+
+        // Skip removed listeners
+        if (listener.removed) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        // If the listener has an aborted signal, remove it and skip
+        if (listener.signal) |signal| {
+            if (signal.getAborted()) {
+                self.removeListener(list, listener);
+                continue;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Remove "once" listeners BEFORE calling them so nested dispatches don't see them
+        if (listener.once) {
+            self.removeListener(list, listener);
+        }
+
+        was_dispatched = true;
+        event._current_target = target;
+
+        switch (listener.function) {
+            .value => |value| try ls.toLocal(value).callWithThis(void, target, .{event}),
+            .string => |string| {
+                const str = try page.call_arena.dupeZ(u8, string.str());
+                try ls.local.eval(str, null);
+            },
+            .object => |obj_global| {
+                const obj = ls.toLocal(obj_global);
+                if (try obj.getFunction("handleEvent")) |handleEvent| {
+                    try handleEvent.callWithThis(void, obj, .{event});
+                }
+            },
+        }
+
+        if (event._stop_immediate_propagation) {
+            return;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
-fn dispatchNode(self: *EventManager, target: *Node, event: *Event, was_handled: *bool, comptime opts: DispatchOpts) !void {
+fn getFunction(handler: anytype, local: *const js.Local) ?js.Function {
+    const T = @TypeOf(handler);
+    const ti = @typeInfo(T);
+
+    if (ti == .null) {
+        return null;
+    }
+    if (ti == .optional) {
+        return getFunction(handler orelse return null, local);
+    }
+    return switch (T) {
+        js.Function => handler,
+        js.Function.Temp => local.toLocal(handler),
+        js.Function.Global => local.toLocal(handler),
+        else => @compileError("handler must be null or \\??js.Function(\\.(Temp|Global))?"),
+    };
+}
+
+fn dispatchNode(self: *EventManager, target: *Node, event: *Event, comptime opts: DispatchOpts) !void {
     const ShadowRoot = @import("webapi/ShadowRoot.zig");
 
+    {
+        const et = target.asEventTarget();
+        event._target = et;
+        event._dispatch_target = et; // Store original target for composedPath()
+    }
+
     const page = self.page;
+    var was_handled = false;
+
+    defer if (was_handled) {
+        var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
+        page.js.localScope(&ls);
+        defer ls.deinit();
+        ls.local.runMicrotasks();
+    };
+
     const activation_state = ActivationState.create(event, target, page);
 
     // Defer runs even on early return - ensures event phase is reset
@@ -374,7 +461,7 @@ fn dispatchNode(self: *EventManager, target: *Node, event: *Event, was_handled:
             .event_target = @intFromPtr(current_target),
             .type_string = event._type_string,
         })) |list| {
-            try self.dispatchPhase(list, current_target, event, was_handled, comptime .init(true, opts));
+            try self.dispatchPhase(list, current_target, event, &was_handled, comptime .init(true, opts));
         }
     }
 
@@ -386,7 +473,7 @@ fn dispatchNode(self: *EventManager, target: *Node, event: *Event, was_handled:
     blk: {
         // Get inline handler (e.g., onclick property) for this target
         if (self.getInlineHandler(target_et, event)) |inline_handler| {
-            was_handled.* = true;
+            was_handled = true;
             event._current_target = target_et;
 
             var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
@@ -408,7 +495,7 @@ fn dispatchNode(self: *EventManager, target: *Node, event: *Event, was_handled:
             .type_string = event._type_string,
             .event_target = @intFromPtr(target_et),
         })) |list| {
-            try self.dispatchPhase(list, target_et, event, was_handled, comptime .init(null, opts));
+            try self.dispatchPhase(list, target_et, event, &was_handled, comptime .init(null, opts));
             if (event._stop_propagation) {
                 return;
             }
@@ -425,7 +512,7 @@ fn dispatchNode(self: *EventManager, target: *Node, event: *Event, was_handled:
                 .type_string = event._type_string,
                 .event_target = @intFromPtr(current_target),
             })) |list| {
-                try self.dispatchPhase(list, current_target, event, was_handled, comptime .init(false, opts));
+                try self.dispatchPhase(list, current_target, event, &was_handled, comptime .init(false, opts));
             }
         }
     }
@@ -549,11 +636,6 @@ fn dispatchPhase(self: *EventManager, list: *std.DoublyLinkedList, current_targe
     }
 }
 
-//  Non-Node dispatching (XHR, Window without propagation)
-fn dispatchAll(self: *EventManager, list: *std.DoublyLinkedList, current_target: *EventTarget, event: *Event, was_handled: *bool, comptime opts: DispatchOpts) !void {
-    return self.dispatchPhase(list, current_target, event, was_handled, comptime .init(null, opts));
-}
-
 fn getInlineHandler(self: *EventManager, target: *EventTarget, event: *Event) ?js.Function.Global {
     const global_event_handlers = @import("webapi/global_event_handlers.zig");
     const handler_type = global_event_handlers.fromEventType(event._type_string.str()) orelse return null;
diff --git a/src/browser/Page.zig b/src/browser/Page.zig
index e2ec7885..c1622140 100644
--- a/src/browser/Page.zig
+++ b/src/browser/Page.zig
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ _element_namespace_uris: Element.NamespaceUriLookup = .empty,
 /// ```js
 /// img.setAttribute("onload", "(() => { ... })()");
 /// ```
-_element_attr_listeners: GlobalEventHandlersLookup = .empty,
+_event_target_attr_listeners: GlobalEventHandlersLookup = .empty,
 
 // Blob URL registry for URL.createObjectURL/revokeObjectURL
 _blob_urls: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(*Blob) = .{},
@@ -726,27 +726,23 @@ fn _documentIsComplete(self: *Page) !void {
     // Run load events before window.load.
     try self.dispatchLoad();
 
-    var ls: JS.Local.Scope = undefined;
-    self.js.localScope(&ls);
-    defer ls.deinit();
-
     // Dispatch window.load event.
     const event = try Event.initTrusted(comptime .wrap("load"), .{}, self);
     // This event is weird, it's dispatched directly on the window, but
     // with the document as the target.
     event._target = self.document.asEventTarget();
-    try self._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    try self._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.window.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        ls.toLocal(self.window._on_load),
+        self.window._on_load,
         .{ .inject_target = false, .context = "page load" },
     );
 
     const pageshow_event = (try PageTransitionEvent.initTrusted(comptime .wrap("pageshow"), .{}, self)).asEvent();
-    try self._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    try self._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.window.asEventTarget(),
         pageshow_event,
-        ls.toLocal(self.window._on_pageshow),
+        self.window._on_pageshow,
         .{ .context = "page show" },
     );
 
@@ -3127,20 +3123,13 @@ pub fn submitForm(self: *Page, submitter_: ?*Element, form_: ?*Element.Html.Form
     const form_element = form.asElement();
 
     if (submit_opts.fire_event) {
-        const onsubmit_handler = try form.asHtmlElement().getOnSubmit(self);
         const submit_event = try Event.initTrusted(comptime .wrap("submit"), .{ .bubbles = true, .cancelable = true }, self);
 
-        var ls: JS.Local.Scope = undefined;
-        self.js.localScope(&ls);
-        defer ls.deinit();
-
-        try self._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
-            form_element.asEventTarget(),
-            submit_event,
-            ls.toLocal(onsubmit_handler),
-            .{ .context = "form submit" },
-        );
+        // so submit_event is still valid when we check _prevent_default
+        submit_event.acquireRef();
+        defer submit_event.deinit(false, self);
 
+        try self._event_manager.dispatch(form_element.asEventTarget(), submit_event);
         // If the submit event was prevented, don't submit the form
         if (submit_event._prevent_default) {
             return;
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/AbortController.zig b/src/browser/webapi/AbortController.zig
index 0c22bd4d..9e26c4ad 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/AbortController.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/AbortController.zig
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ pub fn getSignal(self: *const AbortController) *AbortSignal {
 }
 
 pub fn abort(self: *AbortController, reason_: ?js.Value.Global, page: *Page) !void {
-    try self._signal.abort(if (reason_) |r| .{ .js_val = r } else null, page.js.local.?, page);
+    try self._signal.abort(if (reason_) |r| .{ .js_val = r } else null, page);
 }
 
 pub const JsApi = struct {
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/AbortSignal.zig b/src/browser/webapi/AbortSignal.zig
index 186a6cad..de685efc 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/AbortSignal.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/AbortSignal.zig
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ pub fn asEventTarget(self: *AbortSignal) *EventTarget {
     return self._proto;
 }
 
-pub fn abort(self: *AbortSignal, reason_: ?Reason, local: *const js.Local, page: *Page) !void {
+pub fn abort(self: *AbortSignal, reason_: ?Reason, page: *Page) !void {
     if (self._aborted) {
         return;
     }
@@ -77,10 +77,10 @@ pub fn abort(self: *AbortSignal, reason_: ?Reason, local: *const js.Local, page:
 
     // Dispatch abort event
     const event = try Event.initTrusted(comptime .wrap("abort"), .{}, page);
-    try page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    try page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        local.toLocal(self._on_abort),
+        self._on_abort,
         .{ .context = "abort signal" },
     );
 }
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ pub fn abort(self: *AbortSignal, reason_: ?Reason, local: *const js.Local, page:
 // Static method to create an already-aborted signal
 pub fn createAborted(reason_: ?js.Value.Global, page: *Page) !*AbortSignal {
     const signal = try init(page);
-    try signal.abort(if (reason_) |r| .{ .js_val = r } else null, page.js.local.?, page);
+    try signal.abort(if (reason_) |r| .{ .js_val = r } else null, page);
     return signal;
 }
 
@@ -136,11 +136,7 @@ const TimeoutCallback = struct {
 
     fn run(ctx: *anyopaque) !?u32 {
         const self: *TimeoutCallback = @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx));
-        var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-        self.page.js.localScope(&ls);
-        defer ls.deinit();
-
-        self.signal.abort(.{ .string = "TimeoutError" }, &ls.local, self.page) catch |err| {
+        self.signal.abort(.{ .string = "TimeoutError" }, self.page) catch |err| {
             log.warn(.app, "abort signal timeout", .{ .err = err });
         };
         return null;
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/FileReader.zig b/src/browser/webapi/FileReader.zig
index 3d189089..90e26aa0 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/FileReader.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/FileReader.zig
@@ -183,12 +183,7 @@ fn readInternal(self: *FileReader, blob: *Blob, read_type: ReadType) !void {
 
     const page = self._page;
 
-    var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-    page.js.localScope(&ls);
-    defer ls.deinit();
-    const local = &ls.local;
-
-    try self.dispatch(.load_start, .{ .loaded = 0, .total = blob.getSize() }, local, page);
+    try self.dispatch(.load_start, .{ .loaded = 0, .total = blob.getSize() }, page);
     if (self._aborted) {
         return;
     }
@@ -196,7 +191,7 @@ fn readInternal(self: *FileReader, blob: *Blob, read_type: ReadType) !void {
     // Perform the read (synchronous since data is in memory)
     const data = blob._slice;
     const size = data.len;
-    try self.dispatch(.progress, .{ .loaded = size, .total = size }, local, page);
+    try self.dispatch(.progress, .{ .loaded = size, .total = size }, page);
     if (self._aborted) {
         return;
     }
@@ -216,8 +211,8 @@ fn readInternal(self: *FileReader, blob: *Blob, read_type: ReadType) !void {
 
     self._ready_state = .done;
 
-    try self.dispatch(.load, .{ .loaded = size, .total = size }, local, page);
-    try self.dispatch(.load_end, .{ .loaded = size, .total = size }, local, page);
+    try self.dispatch(.load, .{ .loaded = size, .total = size }, page);
+    try self.dispatch(.load_end, .{ .loaded = size, .total = size }, page);
 }
 
 pub fn abort(self: *FileReader) !void {
@@ -231,17 +226,12 @@ pub fn abort(self: *FileReader) !void {
 
     const page = self._page;
 
-    var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-    page.js.localScope(&ls);
-    defer ls.deinit();
-    const local = &ls.local;
+    try self.dispatch(.abort, null, page);
 
-    try self.dispatch(.abort, null, local, page);
-
-    try self.dispatch(.load_end, null, local, page);
+    try self.dispatch(.load_end, null, page);
 }
 
-fn dispatch(self: *FileReader, comptime event_type: DispatchType, progress_: ?Progress, local: *const js.Local, page: *Page) !void {
+fn dispatch(self: *FileReader, comptime event_type: DispatchType, progress_: ?Progress, page: *Page) !void {
     const field, const typ = comptime blk: {
         break :blk switch (event_type) {
             .abort => .{ "_on_abort", "abort" },
@@ -260,10 +250,10 @@ fn dispatch(self: *FileReader, comptime event_type: DispatchType, progress_: ?Pr
         page,
     )).asEvent();
 
-    return page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    return page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        local.toLocal(@field(self, field)),
+        @field(self, field),
         .{ .context = "FileReader " ++ typ },
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/History.zig b/src/browser/webapi/History.zig
index 4e6bb348..b8819708 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/History.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/History.zig
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ fn goInner(delta: i32, page: *Page) !void {
     if (entry._url) |url| {
         if (try page.isSameOrigin(url)) {
             const event = (try PopStateEvent.initTrusted(comptime .wrap("popstate"), .{ .state = entry._state.value }, page)).asEvent();
-            try page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+            try page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
                 page.window.asEventTarget(),
                 event,
-                page.js.toLocal(page.window._on_popstate),
+                page.window._on_popstate,
                 .{ .context = "Pop State" },
             );
         }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/MessagePort.zig b/src/browser/webapi/MessagePort.zig
index ffddf30c..dfe031f7 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/MessagePort.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/MessagePort.zig
@@ -131,14 +131,10 @@ const PostMessageCallback = struct {
             return null;
         }).asEvent();
 
-        var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-        page.js.localScope(&ls);
-        defer ls.deinit();
-
-        page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+        page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
             self.port.asEventTarget(),
             event,
-            ls.toLocal(self.port._on_message),
+            self.port._on_message,
             .{ .context = "MessagePort message" },
         ) catch |err| {
             log.err(.dom, "MessagePort.postMessage", .{ .err = err });
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/Window.zig b/src/browser/webapi/Window.zig
index 394aa004..91f55b60 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/Window.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/Window.zig
@@ -556,10 +556,10 @@ pub fn unhandledPromiseRejection(self: *Window, rejection: js.PromiseRejection,
         .promise = try rejection.promise().temp(),
     }, page)).asEvent();
 
-    try page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    try page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        rejection.local.toLocal(self._on_unhandled_rejection),
+        self._on_unhandled_rejection,
         .{ .inject_target = true, .context = "window.unhandledrejection" },
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/element/Html.zig b/src/browser/webapi/element/Html.zig
index 07187384..a4e6484d 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/element/Html.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/element/Html.zig
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ pub fn getAttributeFunction(
     page: *Page,
 ) !?js.Function.Global {
     const element = self.asElement();
-    if (page._element_attr_listeners.get(.{ .target = element.asEventTarget(), .handler = listener_type })) |cached| {
+    if (page._event_target_attr_listeners.get(.{ .target = element.asEventTarget(), .handler = listener_type })) |cached| {
         return cached;
     }
 
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ pub fn getAttributeFunction(
 }
 
 pub fn hasAttributeFunction(self: *HtmlElement, listener_type: GlobalEventHandler, page: *const Page) bool {
-    return page._element_attr_listeners.contains(.{ .target = self.asEventTarget(), .handler = listener_type });
+    return page._event_target_attr_listeners.contains(.{ .target = self.asEventTarget(), .handler = listener_type });
 }
 
 fn setAttributeListener(
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ fn setAttributeListener(
     }
 
     if (listener_callback) |cb| {
-        try page._element_attr_listeners.put(page.arena, .{
+        try page._event_target_attr_listeners.put(page.arena, .{
             .target = self.asEventTarget(),
             .handler = listener_type,
         }, cb);
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ fn setAttributeListener(
     }
 
     // The listener is null, remove existing listener.
-    _ = page._element_attr_listeners.remove(.{
+    _ = page._event_target_attr_listeners.remove(.{
         .target = self.asEventTarget(),
         .handler = listener_type,
     });
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/navigation/Navigation.zig b/src/browser/webapi/navigation/Navigation.zig
index 6facfee9..e81ff46e 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/navigation/Navigation.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/navigation/Navigation.zig
@@ -440,14 +440,10 @@ pub fn updateCurrentEntry(self: *Navigation, options: UpdateCurrentEntryOptions,
 }
 
 pub fn dispatch(self: *Navigation, func: js.Function.Global, event: *Event, page: *Page) !void {
-    var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-    page.js.localScope(&ls);
-    defer ls.deinit();
-
-    return page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    return page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        ls.toLocal(func),
+        func,
         .{ .context = "Navigation" },
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequest.zig b/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequest.zig
index 8e839ff6..0eb32cad 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequest.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequest.zig
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ pub fn open(self: *XMLHttpRequest, method_: []const u8, url: [:0]const u8) !void
     const page = self._page;
     self._method = try parseMethod(method_);
     self._url = try URL.resolve(self._arena, page.base(), url, .{ .always_dupe = true, .encode = true });
-    try self.stateChanged(.opened, page.js.local.?, page);
+    try self.stateChanged(.opened, page);
 }
 
 pub fn setRequestHeader(self: *XMLHttpRequest, name: []const u8, value: []const u8, page: *Page) !void {
@@ -397,11 +397,10 @@ fn httpHeaderDoneCallback(transfer: *Http.Transfer) !bool {
     var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
     page.js.localScope(&ls);
     defer ls.deinit();
-    const local = &ls.local;
 
-    try self.stateChanged(.headers_received, local, page);
-    try self._proto.dispatch(.load_start, .{ .loaded = 0, .total = self._response_len orelse 0 }, local, page);
-    try self.stateChanged(.loading, local, page);
+    try self.stateChanged(.headers_received, page);
+    try self._proto.dispatch(.load_start, .{ .loaded = 0, .total = self._response_len orelse 0 }, page);
+    try self.stateChanged(.loading, page);
 
     return true;
 }
@@ -412,14 +411,10 @@ fn httpDataCallback(transfer: *Http.Transfer, data: []const u8) !void {
 
     const page = self._page;
 
-    var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-    page.js.localScope(&ls);
-    defer ls.deinit();
-
     try self._proto.dispatch(.progress, .{
         .total = self._response_len orelse 0,
         .loaded = self._response_data.items.len,
-    }, &ls.local, page);
+    }, page);
 }
 
 fn httpDoneCallback(ctx: *anyopaque) !void {
@@ -438,22 +433,17 @@ fn httpDoneCallback(ctx: *anyopaque) !void {
 
     const page = self._page;
 
-    var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-    page.js.localScope(&ls);
-    defer ls.deinit();
-    const local = &ls.local;
-
-    try self.stateChanged(.done, local, page);
+    try self.stateChanged(.done, page);
 
     const loaded = self._response_data.items.len;
     try self._proto.dispatch(.load, .{
         .total = loaded,
         .loaded = loaded,
-    }, local, page);
+    }, page);
     try self._proto.dispatch(.load_end, .{
         .total = loaded,
         .loaded = loaded,
-    }, local, page);
+    }, page);
 
     page.js.weakRef(self);
 }
@@ -495,17 +485,12 @@ fn _handleError(self: *XMLHttpRequest, err: anyerror) !void {
     if (new_state != self._ready_state) {
         const page = self._page;
 
-        var ls: js.Local.Scope = undefined;
-        page.js.localScope(&ls);
-        defer ls.deinit();
-        const local = &ls.local;
-
-        try self.stateChanged(new_state, local, page);
+        try self.stateChanged(new_state, page);
         if (is_abort) {
-            try self._proto.dispatch(.abort, null, local, page);
+            try self._proto.dispatch(.abort, null, page);
         }
-        try self._proto.dispatch(.err, null, local, page);
-        try self._proto.dispatch(.load_end, null, local, page);
+        try self._proto.dispatch(.err, null, page);
+        try self._proto.dispatch(.load_end, null, page);
     }
 
     const level: log.Level = if (err == error.Abort) .debug else .err;
@@ -516,7 +501,7 @@ fn _handleError(self: *XMLHttpRequest, err: anyerror) !void {
     });
 }
 
-fn stateChanged(self: *XMLHttpRequest, state: ReadyState, local: *const js.Local, page: *Page) !void {
+fn stateChanged(self: *XMLHttpRequest, state: ReadyState, page: *Page) !void {
     if (state == self._ready_state) {
         return;
     }
@@ -524,10 +509,10 @@ fn stateChanged(self: *XMLHttpRequest, state: ReadyState, local: *const js.Local
     self._ready_state = state;
 
     const event = try Event.initTrusted(.wrap("readystatechange"), .{}, page);
-    try page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    try page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        local.toLocal(self._on_ready_state_change),
+        self._on_ready_state_change,
         .{ .context = "XHR state change" },
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequestEventTarget.zig b/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequestEventTarget.zig
index ae268a59..ad51c10e 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequestEventTarget.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/net/XMLHttpRequestEventTarget.zig
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub fn asEventTarget(self: *XMLHttpRequestEventTarget) *EventTarget {
     return self._proto;
 }
 
-pub fn dispatch(self: *XMLHttpRequestEventTarget, comptime event_type: DispatchType, progress_: ?Progress, local: *const js.Local, page: *Page) !void {
+pub fn dispatch(self: *XMLHttpRequestEventTarget, comptime event_type: DispatchType, progress_: ?Progress, page: *Page) !void {
     const field, const typ = comptime blk: {
         break :blk switch (event_type) {
             .abort => .{ "_on_abort", "abort" },
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ pub fn dispatch(self: *XMLHttpRequestEventTarget, comptime event_type: DispatchT
         page,
     )).asEvent();
 
-    return page._event_manager.dispatchWithFunction(
+    return page._event_manager.dispatchDirect(
         self.asEventTarget(),
         event,
-        local.toLocal(@field(self, field)),
+        @field(self, field),
         .{ .context = "XHR " ++ typ },
     );
 }